Ben Askren discussed who he thinks could headline UFC 300.
On December 16, UFC 296 will go down inside the T-Mobile Arena for the last promotional pay-per-view of the year. Many fans are excited about the event, but it’s also another stepping stone to what could be one of the biggest events in UFC history.
If the UFC PPV schedule stays consistent, the historic UFC 300 event will take place in April 2024. There have already been debates among the MMA community about who could be featured on the must-see fight card, but it’s still too far out for any concrete details.
Ben Askren voiced his opinion about who could headline UFC 300 during a recent interview with “From The Stands.” Askren started by suggesting Israel Adesanya could move up to 205 pounds to challenge his rival Alex Pereira for the latter’s light heavyweight title:
“I thought maybe [Adesanya] bump up to fight [Alex] Pereira again because Pereira seems to want that. So, I think that’s one route you could go, Pereira vs. Adesanya. I think people would be into that.”
Israel Adesanya has claimed he plans to stay inactive for the foreseeable future following his shocking loss against Sean Strickland. Therefore, Ben Askren named another potential UFC 300 main event, which would feature new UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall:
“I would love to see Tom Aspinall fight Stipe [Miocic]. Or at least fight again because Aspinall took that fight [against Sergei Pavlovich] on two week’s notice. Jon Jones is gonna be out nine or so months. If he has nine or so months and then he fights after that and then Aspinall has to wait again? Aspinall is gonna be waiting let’s say fifteen months or something. Dude, you’re young, you’re a bada*s, go take the fight. That’s kinda what I would do if I was Tom Aspinall, I’d fight again.”
Most of the return timelines for the UFC champions don’t match up with April. As a result, Ben Askren thinks the UFC could utilize the BMF title to ensure a title is on the line at UFC 300:
“I also wouldn’t be surprised if they did something with the BMF [title for UFC 300] because that seems to be a crutch they will use when they don’t have a great title fight in the waiting.”
Watch Ben Askren’s interview with “From The Stands” below:
Ben Askren doesn’t think Conor McGregor will headline UFC 300
There has been speculation surrounding Conor McGregor’s highly-anticipated UFC return being perfect for the UFC 300 main event. Yet, Ben Askren isn’t confident McGregor will ever fight again, never mind in April.
Askren had this to say during the previously mentioned interview:
“People would be really into the return of Conor McGregor, but I’m not sold it’s actually happening. We’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting. It may happen, it may not. We’ll see.”
Earlier this year, Conor McGregor coached against Michael Chandler on The Ultimate Fighter Season 31. The reality show was utilized to promote a future fight between the UFC superstars, which Dana White has confirmed several times.
Only time will tell if McGregor vs. Chandler gets booked for the historic UFC 300 event.
